"Only a day apart, and you're already missing each other so much. It seems your old flame has been rekindled?"
Faced with his sarcastic remark, Luana didn't bother to explain. She simply lowered her long eyelashes, hiding the discomfort in her eyes.
Seeing her silence, Cline's face turned even colder. His grip on her chin tightened uncontrollably.
"Didn't you say you didn't love him anymore? Why are you rekindling your old relationship?"
Luana endured the pain in her chin and forced a smile at Cline.
"If I can be your lover for years without loving you, why can't I rekindle my relationship with him?"
It wasn't clear whether it was the first part of her sentence that choked Cline or the latter that left him speechless, but it made him so angry that he couldn't find words.
Luana glanced up at him and saw his usually frosty, charming eyes gradually turn bloodshot. Her heart jolted, but she quickly suppressed the involuntary feelings that
"Remember to use the scar-removing medicine," Eva said. With her delicate and elegant appearance, she was the epitome of beauty—her face couldn't afford to be marred by scars.Eva nodded in agreement and left with her medical bag.As the dean of a private hospital, her schedule was usually quite busy.Had it not been for Cline, it would have been nearly impossible to get an appointment with her.Thinking of Cline, Luana felt a lump in her chest.She couldn't understand his intentions. He was about to get married to his fiancée, yet he kept her locked up at home.Did he want Runa and yet couldn't bear to let go of her?If that was the case, Cline was being incredibly greedy.Luana glanced at the floor-to-ceiling windows. At some point, the sky had darkened and a heavy downpour had begun.The weather matched her mood perfectly, prompting a deep sigh from her.As she sat on the bed, hugging her legs and
"So you did plan this with him!" Cline's cold, emotionless voice came from above Luana's head, making her pause for a moment."I didn't.""Then how did he know you were here?""I'm not sure, maybe it's because..." Her explanation was cut short by Cline's cold interruption."Stop making excuses. Getting your bag back wasn't just to contact him, was it?"Seeing Cline's stubborn and indifferent expression, Luana fell silent.He had already made up his mind that she had contacted Calvert to pick her up. No amount of explanation would convince him; it was futile."He comes to pick you up as soon as you're recovering. If that's not premeditated, then what is it?" Cline's distrust and relentless questioning left Luana feeling exhausted.She took a deep breath and replied indifferently, "Yes, I did arrange with him. The day I could walk again, I asked him to come and get me."Hearing her admission, Cline's lips curled into a col
Luana never expected that after Cline let Calvert in, he would continue to kiss her.It wasn't until she heard Calvert's voice that she understood his intention.Although she had already let go of Calvert, seeing his eyes turn bloodshot with despair still startled her.She couldn't help but feel that the man struggling to rush towards them wasn't Calvert, but Albion.Because only Albion would lose control when he saw her being hurt by another man.Instinctively not wanting to upset Albion, she struggled desperately.But the more she struggled, the harder Cline kissed her, even going so far as to slide his slender fingers inside her clothes right in front of Calvert."Cline, don't touch her!" Calvert roared in a fit of madness, wishing he could rush over and kill Cline.But his body was pinned down by the bodyguard, leaving him helpless as he watched Cline take possession of Luana bit by bit.Luana forcefully pushed Cline
When it was all over, the man pushed her away, got up, and went into the bathroom.She, on the other hand, lay face-down on the bed, staring blankly toward the door, feeling utterly hopeless.This was Cline's bedroom. The door was automatic and couldn't be opened without a remote.While they were... together, the man outside had been pounding on the door frantically.Luana suddenly remembered five years ago when Albion woke up and found out she had sold herself to save him.He had pointed at her and screamed, calling her shameless, accusing her of sleeping with other men while he was on death's door.She had felt wronged back then, but now that she knew the truth, she felt guilty—not toward Calvert, but toward Albion, who had once cherished her like a precious gem.She heard his heart-wrenching cries and let out a deep sigh. Struggling, she threw off the covers, pulled on her clothes, and made her way to the door.Gathering all her courage, she opened it and locked eyes with Calvert,
The resentment that had lingered in her heart for years, something she could never let go of, vanished the moment she learned the truth.Suddenly, she felt no more sadness, and no more resentment—only a sense of acceptance for the past.She let out a deep sigh of relief. When she looked at him again, her eyes were lighter than ever before."It's not your fault. We just weren't meant to be, and that's why all these misunderstandings happened," she said."All of this is in the past now. You don't need to keep apologizing."Her tone of acceptance felt like a knife twisting in Calvert's heart, the pain radiating down to his fingertips.By saying it was in the past, did she mean she was letting go—letting go of their history and of him?"Do you... not want me anymore?"His voice trembled as he asked the question.Luana touched her neck, where Cline's hickeys were still visible. How could she possibly be with Albio
Calvert didn't want her to go back to Cline, but hearing that she would leave with him made him agree anyway."Okay," he said.Just like in their youth, he trusted and agreed with whatever she said.Luana gave him a gentle smile, then turned to face Cline. "Cline, you must have heard what we were just talking about, right?"Cline's thin lips were pressed tightly together in silence, confirming that he had.Luana continued, "Albion and I did grow up together, knowing and loving each other. We promised to be together forever. But I was spoiled and willful. Once, I got into a childish argument with him on the street, and he got hit by a car. The only thing I could do was sell myself to pay for his surgery. You heard the rest—because of his amnesia and his brother's interference, I misunderstood him and signed that contract with you out of spite..."Cline cut her off coldly, "Are you saying you didn't want to be with me?" Luana nodded.
Calvert and Luana leaned on each other as they walked out of the villa. Outside, several cars were parked—Calvert's.The men in the cars, all bodyguards, had bruises on their faces. Before Calvert went in, his men had already fought with Cline's guards.Outnumbered, Calvert's men had lost, and Calvert had no choice but to call the police.Seeing Calvert emerge unscathed, the bodyguards breathed a sigh of relief. One of them quickly opened the car door for the two.Calvert helped Luana into the car first, then got in himself.Ignoring his own pain, he grabbed a clean towel and gently wiped Luana's rain-soaked hair.His touch was incredibly tender, as if afraid he might hurt her.But when his eyes fell on her exposed skin, his face changed instantly.The woman he had always cherished and protected had been so cruelly hurt by that bastard Cline—over and over again, for five long years.It was enough to make Calv
Luana saw the look on his face and her eyes filled with guilt. "I'm sorry..." she whispered.Calvert looked up, his bloodshot eyes reflecting Luana's remorseful expression."I don't want your apology. I just want you, Luana. Can't you stop loving him? Can't you love me again?"He stepped forward and grabbed her cold hand, holding it gently in his. "I'll treat you right from now on. I'll never let anyone hurt you again. Let's go back to the way things were, like when we were in school, carefree and happy. Can we do that?"Luana shook her head. "Albion, we can't go back."Calvert refused to believe it. "You're lying to me, right? If you really loved Cline, you wouldn't have said those cold words to him. You don't love him. You're just mad at me and trying to trick me...""I said those cold words because he doesn't love me," Luana interrupted calmly. "He bought me because I look like Miss Ortega. I was just a substitute. Now that Miss Ortega is
She quickly lowered her eyelashes, blocking out that scorching gaze.The man stared at her for a while, and upon noticing the flutter of her lashes, he confirmed she was truly awake.He straightened up, said nothing, and turned to leave, soon returning with an elderly man.The old man had golden hair and blue eyes, his head full of white hair. Dressed in a white suit, he looked spirited and elegant.The man led the elderly gentleman in, raised his slender finger, pointed at Luana on the bed, and asked with a frown, "George, how did she wake up?"George?Luana was taken aback. Eva had mentioned that Cline had contacted a renowned international heart specialist for her, and that expert was named George. Could this be him?George didn't respond to the man's question. Instead, he activated the medical equipment and began a full-body examination of Luana.His expression was focused, his eyes filled with disbelief.His reactio
Cline's face stiffened instantly. The body he had been barely holding together suddenly collapsed.Yes, Luana loved Albion, not him. What right did he have to stay here?He remembered how Luana had repeatedly asked him not to mess with her in the past...Since she despised him so much, if he didn't let Aibion be alone with her for a while, she would only hate him more.Thinking this, Cline slowly stood up and walked away without looking back.Calvert watched Cline's figure disappear, then turned back. He gently traced Luana's photo on the tombstone."Luana, forgive me for not telling him the truth—that you actually loved him... I just wanted to punish him for being so cruel to you... But please, don't blame me, okay?"With that, he kissed the tombstone one last time."Luana, I've passed the Coburn Group to my cousin and given all my personal assets to Clarissa. I... can come to stay with you now."Calvert took out
Calvert managed a calm smile, "Don't worry. I'm just fulfilling my promise to take care of you. But I have to manage the Coburn Group, so I won't be able to look after you in person. I can only support you financially."He lowered his eyes, filled with guilt, "I should have taken care of you both as soon as I returned to the Coburn Group, but my amnesia made you both suffer for five years..."Clarissa pushed the folder back, "I can't accept these. I can earn money myself."Calvert insisted, "Take it. Consider it compensation for my regrets over the years." With that, he got up and left."Where are you going?" Clarissa called out.Calvert turned back, his smile making her uneasy, "To visit her.""Albion, I'm the only family you have left. Don't do anything foolish," Clarissa's voice was choked with emotion.Calvert waved his hand without turning around and walked away.He bought a bunch of flower and went to the cemetery. In the
Clarissa had dreamed countless times that Luana was doing well in another world, much better than in the real one.She thought it was better that Luana didn't come back.After all, everyone must die eventually. Luana had just taken an earlier step.When her life ended, she would also go to that world to find Luana.Just as Luana had said in her dream, she would build a house there, waiting to welcome Albion and Clarissa when their lives in this world came to an end.Then, like after leaving the orphanage, the three of them would live in the same house, loving and taking care of each other.This way, the regrets they left in this life could be mended in another world...Clarissa came to her senses and looked at the letter Luana had left her, softly responding, "Alright..."She would live this life to the fullest and then find Luana in another world. She wanted to be sisters with Luana forever, never parting.Just as Clari
Gath traced the belt marks on her cheek with his fingertip in a mocking tone, "Came to see you... You've been doing so 'well' after leaving the Titlington family."Eva avoided his touch and coldly said, "You've seen enough, now go. I need to rest."Gath suddenly gripped her chin with a force that made her wince, "Eva, you're getting bold, huh? Speaking to me like that."Eva winced, but Gath let go as suddenly as he had grabbed her. She looked up and caught him avoiding her gaze."Gath, I'm hungry. Could you get me something to eat?" Eva softened her voice."Who do you think you are to order me around?" Gath raised an eyebrow."Someone you've been with. Does that count?" Eva fired back.Gath fell silent for a moment, then got up and left the ward.Eva watched him leave, her smile fading, her eyes cold and filled with loathing.'Gath, if you ever fall for me, I'll make you pay for all the pain you've caused!'No soo
"Do you know who she is? She's Sidney from the Preston family! You can't afford to tangle with her, so scram—"Zander let out a cold laugh, and the others joined in. "What a coincidence, she's exactly who we're looking for."Amid their eerie laughter, the man immediately abandoned Sidney, pushing through the crowd to flee.But he had barely taken two steps when a man in a black mask yanked him back.With a judo throw, the black-masked man sent him crashing to the ground, rendering him unconscious on the spot.Zander turned to Cline, "Sir, what shall we do with her?"Cline lowered his head, massaging his right hand that was oozing blood, as hatred surged within him.He was the cause of Luana's fatal injury, and now Sidney and Runa, who had humiliated her, deserved no less.He narrowed his eyes, his voice icy, "First, give her a hundred slaps, then..."He paused, his tone turning vicious, "Throw her into 'Nightfall'
Cline entered the study, unlocked a drawer, and retrieved a gold-bronze mask and a bottle of grey plant juice.He picked up a brush and carefully painted a wolf pattern on his neck.After finishing, he made a call.The recipient answered promptly, addressing him respectfully.Cline, gazing at the night outside, said coldly, "Tonight's targets are Sidney and Runa."The recipient responded promptly, "Yes, I'll come to pick you up right away."Cline hung up, his eyes cold and filled with malice as he looked at the manor lit by streetlights.Through the lights, he seemed to see the old mansion of the Preston family, and his eyes blazed with hatred.'Sheila, I promised my father I wouldn't kill you, but you've destroyed what I care about, so I'll destroy what you care about.''If you want to play, I'll play along...'Cline rewound the blood-soaked bandage on his hand and put on a pair of black leather gloves.He
Back then, he was young and naive, thinking that by attempting suicide, his mother would show him some kindness.But he soon realized that not all women who have given birth deserve the title of "mother."Ironically, the woman who wanted to torture him to death wasn't a wicked stepmother but his biological mother.The Moriarty family treated him with care, while the Preston family, his mother's side, devised ways to torment him.He had once doubted whether he was his mother's biological son, but investigations proved otherwise. He was her son, a plaything she intended to torture to death.His mother's method of torture was to force him to live and watch everything he cared about be destroyed before his eyes.Cline's lips curled into a bitter smile. He had once believed that all mothers loved their children and had yearned for maternal love.Now, he knew better. Cline lifted his hate-filled eyes and coldly regarded the woman in the whe
When Eva was impersonating Cline's lover, she was also terrified of being tortured to death like Valda.But she mustered the courage to do so because, since Gath sent people to rape her, she had felt she should disappear from the world.It was Cline who reached out to her, telling her not to rush revenge and that it would eventually succeed.This gave her the courage to live on.With Cline's support, Eva traveled far to study medicine.Cline had given her the strength to start anew, and so she remained devoted to him.But she hadn't anticipated that her initial intention was to protect Luana by keeping a low profile, only to inadvertently drag her into trouble.Eva lowered her dim eyes, striving to suppress her guilt, and looked up at Cline."Luana, do it!" she urged.The worst that could happen was losing her life, which was nothing to fear.Cline glanced at Eva, his icy gaze shifting back to Sheila